Wiener committed to bringing IT advances to health care
Her consulting company honored by Montgomery County chamber
Having a job that inspires you is something most people dream of. Perhaps almost as satisfying is winning a prestigious award for your work.
Robin Wiener, 44, is the president of Get Real Consulting, an information technology consulting company that operates out of both Rockville and Bangalore, India. Last month, Wiener accepted the 2008 Verl Zanders Emerging Business of the Year award from the Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce on behalf of her 7-year-old company.
Georgette Goodwin, chamber president and CEO, said Get Real Consulting, one of three finalists for the award, was recognized for its "growth and innovation in health care information technology and Web development."
Wiener said the award, presented at the chamber's annual awards dinner, was unexpected.
"I truly didn't think that we were going to win," she said. "I didn't write a speech. I did not think that it was going to happen."
Get Real Consulting has been working with clients, including Microsoft and the American Heart Association, on developing client-controlled systems on the Web.
"The American Heart Association engaged Get Real Consulting to help design and build AHA's Heart360 new and improved online cardiovascular wellness center, which consumers can use to monitor blood pressure, blood glucose, medication, physical activity and other disease states," said Donna LaMarita, senior project manager at the American Heart/Stroke Association, in a statement. "Working with the Get Real Consulting team, AHA found them professional, experienced and knowledgeable in the build and development of Web applications."
Wiener explained that in using the system, patients can "take their blood pressure machine, plug it into the computer, and sync the results into the program." If there are any concerns with the results, the patient's physician will be notified.
Wiener referred to the Microsoft program that Get Real Consulting is working on as a "health vault in the sky."
"After Katrina, patients' health files were lost, either in their houses, offices or at the hospital," she said. With Microsoft's program, "patient's files are backed up in a database online."
"I am really passionate about getting into the health care area," Wiener said. "We are part of a movement."
Wiener pointed out that during the recent presidential election campaign "both candidates talked about online health, and the new administration has been talking about online medical records."
"It's very exciting to be doing something to help my children and parents," she said. "We are helping different generations."
The most challenging aspect of her job is "getting our message out, and getting more people on the system."
In the last year, Get Real Consulting doubled its revenues, which Wiener attributes to the fact that "people are looking for ways to streamline, and to help cut costs in the health field."
In a recent press release, Wiener was quoted as saying that "the long-term goal is better health awareness and management, which will ultimately save lives."
Wiener, who grew up in Connecticut, lives with "the loves of her life": her husband and children, Benjamin, 6, and Sammy, 18 months.
When she's not at work, Wiener keeps busy by chairing the Rockville Planning Commission and volunteering at her son's school.